Renewable liquid reflecting zone plate

Abstract

A renewable liquid reflecting zone plate. Electrodes are operatively connected to a dielectric liquid in a circular or other arrangement to produce a reflecting zone plate. A system for renewing the liquid uses a penetrable substrate.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A renewable liquid reflecting laser zone plate for reflecting short pulses, comprising: 
       a dielectric or conducting liquid, said liquid having a surface for reflecting said short pulses, and  
       electrodes positioned below said surface and operatively connected to said dielectric or conducting liquid in a circular or other arrangement that produces said reflecting laser zone plate, and  
       a system for renewing the liquid.  
     
     
       2. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are ring electrodes comprising alternately spaced positive and negative ring electrodes. 
     
     
       3. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are linear electrodes comprising alternately spaced positive and negative linear electrodes. 
     
     
       4. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are positioned in a substrate. 
     
     
       5. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 4 , wherein said substrate is a penetrable unit operatively connected to said liquid. 
     
     
       6. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 5 , wherein said penetrable unit is a porous unit. 
     
     
       7. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 5 , wherein said penetrable unit is a capillary substrate. 
     
     
       8. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 5 , including a system for moving said dielectric or conducting liquid through said penetrable unit to produce said reflecting laser zone plate. 
     
     
       9. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 8 , wherein said system for moving said liquid through said penetrable unit is a piston. 
     
     
       10. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 8 , wherein said system for moving said liquid through said penetrable unit is a flexible membrane driven by an actuator. 
     
     
       11. The liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 8 , wherein said system for moving said liquid through said penetrable unit is a bellows. 
     
     
       12. A method of producing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate for reflecting short pulses comprising 
       providing a renewable dielectric or conducting liquid having a surface for reflecting said short pulses,  
       positioning electrodes below said surface and located relative to said dielectric or conducting liquid in a circular or other arrangement that produces said reflecting laser zone plate for reflecting short pulses.  
     
     
       13. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 12 , wherein said step of positioning electrodes comprises alternately spacing positive ring electrodes and negative ring electrodes relative to said liquid to produce said reflecting laser zone plate. 
     
     
       14. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 12 , wherein said step of positioning electrodes comprises alternately spacing positive linear electrodes and negative linear electrodes relative to said liquid to produce said reflecting laser zone plate. 
     
     
       15. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 12 , including positioning a penetrable unit in an operative position relative to said liquid to withdraw and refresh said dielectric liquid. 
     
     
       16. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 15 , wherein said penetrable unit is a porous substrate. 
     
     
       17. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 16 , including moving said dielectric or conducting liquid through said porous substrate to produce said reflecting laser zone plate. 
     
     
       18. The method of providing a liquid reflecting laser zone plate of  claim 17 , including using a piston, or bellows, or flexible membrane to move said liquid through said porous substrate to produce said reflecting laser zone plate.